Wow! After a bumpy ride I have arrived in Frisco, Texas at the home of Sheila Herrmann. Sheila was awaiting my arrival and scooped me up out of the mail box as soon as I arrived and slid me out of my travel pouch so that I might enjoy the beautiful fresh air and wonderful sunshine. She told me to enjoy it while it lasted because tomorrow's weather would be entirely different. Once I had time to unpack Miss Sheila had a few errands to run and we left with me perched in the front seat of her big truck. She pointed out all the wonderful athletic venues both for professionals and amateurs available here in Frisco. They have some of the best venues for youth athletics in the nation such as gymnastics, soccer, baseball, basketball, and ice hockey plus a 100,000 square foot bike racing track that is part of the United States Olympic Training Center! Once our errands were done Miss Sheila took me home to introduce me to some of her "very dear" family members. Miss Sheila explained we needed to be talk very quiet and not make any fast movements so as not to frighten the family. You see her "special" family members were cats! Not just any cats - but rescue cats. Miss Sheila expained that these kitties had been tossed out like garbage and abandoned. Some had even gone to jail (the animal shelter). The kitties had done nothing wrong - they were just at the mercy of people who were not responsible about taking care of them. I wasn't sure what this meant at first, as they were all so beautiful and certainly not garbage. Miss Sheila explained that people need to understand that these kitties and other shelter pets or any other pets are forever. They need forever homes with people to care and shelter them for the rest of their life. Unfortunately too many of the shelter pets don't get a forever family but she doesn't know why. There certainly are enough people out there. Maybe they have been forgotten. I told Miss Sheila on my travels I wll do my best to remind people of all the "forever homes" which are still needed so that every pet can have a good home.
The next day was as Miss Sheila warned. The sky was dark and cloudy and rain fell most of the day. It was quite a bit colder by almost 40 degrees as well. Miss Sheila is also a letter carrier in Lewisville TX so we had to get up at 5 a.m. to go to work. We arrived at the post office at 7:15 a.m. and there were so many people who greeted me. Some spoke English while others said hello in Spanish, Korean, and Vietnamese! Such an interesting mix of people. I watched Miss Sheila work in the office as she sorted and arranged her mail for the day and then we went and loaded up our truck. I got to sit right up front and as we left the Post Office Miss Sheila said, "Hold On Juliette". What a rockin' and rollin' ride that mail truck was! We had over 800 homes to deliver today but Miss Sheila not only knew the way but she knew all of her customers as well and introduced me to so many of them.
When we got back that night to the post office Miss Sheila said I had done a great job but looked very tired so she was sending me off to my next destination. I was going to travel to Laramie WY next with possible side trips to Philadelphia, PA and Cody, WY if I arrived in time. Miss Sheila dressed me in my warmest pj's, gave me a big hug and reminded me to please "don't forget the shelter pets" Juliette! I promised to spread her special words in my travels and help search for "forever homes". Then she tucked me safely into my sleeping berth so I could be on my way. I can't wait to see where I wake up next!
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Friday, October 21, 2011
Flat Juliette Goes to School and the Denver Center For the Performing Arts
I arrived at children's author Cheryl Carpinello's house in Littleton Colorado on Wednesday, Oct. 19, 2011. Little did I know what adventures were in store for me.
I had to get up at 6:30 on Thursday. While I dressed in my best outfit, author Cheryl let her daughter's two dogs out in the backyard. They are also staying here. Author Cheryl has a pretty full house! Next we got in the car and drove to Alameda High School where author Cheryl is teaching English. Boy, are those high schoolers ever big! I had to be careful not to get stepped on in the halls.
Author Cheryl's first class came and sat down. They were 11th graders. Some of them were even close to my size. In order to sit at one of the desks, I had to sit on 2 dictionaries! Author Cheryl and the kids are reading the book Forbidden City by William Bell. She is having them write a journal about the book. Wow! That sounds like a lot of work.
When that class finished, author Cheryl and I went out and got in the car again. What a short day at school!
We didn't go back home like I thought we would. Instead we went to downtown Denver and a gigantic place called the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Outside on the lawn were these two huge stick figures as large as the buildings! They were dancing. I found a picture of them after we got home.
We met her Humanities students down there and went to see a play! It was called American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose. The kids laughed a lot during the play, and sometimes I did also. Author Cheryl said that I might be a little young for this play, but that the experience would be good for me. It was different from any other adventure I have had.
We got to go back home once the play was over. Author Cheryl and I played in the backyard with the 2 dogs and her 3-year-old grandson Cameron. Author Cheryl would throw the frisbee and Cameron, the dogs, and I would run after it. Many times we would fall down in the grass and leaves and laugh as the dogs tried to lick our faces! Ugh!
Author Cheryl then took Cameron and me to the football game. Her husband's team was playing her school's team! We had to cheer for both sides. I just followed Cameron and clapped when he clapped. Cameron and I also danced when the band played. We had to go home before the game was over, but not before author Cheryl bought us each a hotdog for supper.
After a good night's sleep, author Cheryl says it's time for me to go and meet her sister Sheila in Texas. I've never been to Texas, but author Cheryl says that it is warmer there than in Colorado during the fall. I can't wait to get there and see what adventures Sheila will take me on.
Did I mention that author Cheryl wrote Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend? She gave my Girl Scout troop a writing workshop and that is how we met her. Thank you, Author Cheryl for letting me visit with you and for taking me to all those wonderful places.
I had to get up at 6:30 on Thursday. While I dressed in my best outfit, author Cheryl let her daughter's two dogs out in the backyard. They are also staying here. Author Cheryl has a pretty full house! Next we got in the car and drove to Alameda High School where author Cheryl is teaching English. Boy, are those high schoolers ever big! I had to be careful not to get stepped on in the halls.
Author Cheryl's first class came and sat down. They were 11th graders. Some of them were even close to my size. In order to sit at one of the desks, I had to sit on 2 dictionaries! Author Cheryl and the kids are reading the book Forbidden City by William Bell. She is having them write a journal about the book. Wow! That sounds like a lot of work.
When that class finished, author Cheryl and I went out and got in the car again. What a short day at school!
We didn't go back home like I thought we would. Instead we went to downtown Denver and a gigantic place called the Denver Center for the Performing Arts. Outside on the lawn were these two huge stick figures as large as the buildings! They were dancing. I found a picture of them after we got home.
We met her Humanities students down there and went to see a play! It was called American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose. The kids laughed a lot during the play, and sometimes I did also. Author Cheryl said that I might be a little young for this play, but that the experience would be good for me. It was different from any other adventure I have had.
We got to go back home once the play was over. Author Cheryl and I played in the backyard with the 2 dogs and her 3-year-old grandson Cameron. Author Cheryl would throw the frisbee and Cameron, the dogs, and I would run after it. Many times we would fall down in the grass and leaves and laugh as the dogs tried to lick our faces! Ugh!
Author Cheryl then took Cameron and me to the football game. Her husband's team was playing her school's team! We had to cheer for both sides. I just followed Cameron and clapped when he clapped. Cameron and I also danced when the band played. We had to go home before the game was over, but not before author Cheryl bought us each a hotdog for supper.
After a good night's sleep, author Cheryl says it's time for me to go and meet her sister Sheila in Texas. I've never been to Texas, but author Cheryl says that it is warmer there than in Colorado during the fall. I can't wait to get there and see what adventures Sheila will take me on.
Did I mention that author Cheryl wrote Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend? She gave my Girl Scout troop a writing workshop and that is how we met her. Thank you, Author Cheryl for letting me visit with you and for taking me to all those wonderful places.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Flat Juliette meets Alton Brown!
Monday, October 10, 2011
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